Rupinder Pal Singh, Akashdeep Singh make returns; Sardar Singh keeps his place in the Asian Games team

Sardar Singh retains his place in the Asian Games team of 2018.

Rupinder Pal Singh and Akashdeep Singh, ACE forwards , returned Monday for the 18 players of the Indian men's team. The Asian Games of the month in Indonesia, where the country would defend its gold medal.

The team of the 18th Asian Games, to be held in Jakarta and Palembang from August 18 to September 2, was announced by Hockey India on Monday only two changes to the Champions Trophy team which has won a second consecutive silver medal in Breda, the Netherlands.

While Rupinder, rested from the Champions Trophy team, returned to Jarmanpreet Singh's place, Akashdeep replaced a wounded Ramandeep Singh

The rest of the team, who will be led by veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, is the same as the one who participated in the last edition of the Champions Trophy.

Chinglensana Singh was retained vice-captain and will be joined by the experienced Sardar Singh, Manpreet Singh, Simranjeet Singh and Vivek Sagar Prasad in the midfield.

The Indian fore-line just has a change in Akashdeep replacing Ramandeep, who suffered a knee injury right in the Champions Trophy. In addition to Akashdeep, Sunil SV, Mandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay and Dilpreet Singh are the other forwards of the Asian Games team

The defense of the team will be strengthened by the return of the experienced Rupinder alongside Harmanpreet Singh, Varun Kumar, Amit Rohidas, Surender Kumar and Birendra Lakra

India beat Pakistan in the final at the 2014 edition in Incheon, Korea, to win the gold and will be eager to repeat the feat of reserving an automatic place at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

India's head coach, Harendra Singh, is pleased with the composition of the team.

"We have a large number of players who have shown their abilities in recent tournaments.But it is unfortunate that the experience of Ramandeep Singh be ruled out because he is excluded from the Asian Games because of". a recent knee operation, "said Harendra

" It's good to have Akashdeep Singh back in. Rupinder and Akashdeep both stayed at the camp while the team was in Breda and that they had good matches against Bangladesh last week and that they are anxious to leave, "he added.

Players returning from Breda joined the rest of the grbadroots group at the current national camp at the Sports Authority of India's center in Bengaluru after a short five-day break.

The next three weeks will see them face the Korean national team in five training matches. Zealand in three games before the important Games.

"While the practice matches against Korea will have a mix of base group players, the matches against New Zealand will be played by the 18 members selected for the" I believe it will be good for the team in its preparation for the Asian Games where we will definitely win the gold medal for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, "added Harendra

.] Team:

Goalkeepers: PR Sreejesh (Captain), Krishan B Pathak

Defenders: Harmanpreet Singh, Varun Kumar, Birendra Lakra, Kumar Surender, Rupinder Pal Singh, Amit Rohidas

Midfielder: Manpreet Singh, Chinglensana Singh Kangujam (Vice Captain), Simranjeet Singh, Sardar Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad

Before: SV Sunil, Mandeep Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Dilpreet Singh. [19659022] For all the latest sports news, download Indian Express App